Atmore, Alabama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atmore is a city in Escambia County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,676. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 7,530. [1] The city was named for Mr. C.P. Atmore.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Community Information
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Atmore is located at 31°1′23″N, 87°29′31″W (31.023183, -87.492067)^GR1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 km² (8.4 mi²). 21.5 km² (8.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.36%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 7,676 people, 3,148 households, and 2,071 families residing in the city. The population density was 356.2/km² (922.5/mi²). There were 3,535 housing units at an average density of 164.0/km² (424.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.48% White, 46.31% Black or African American, 2.41% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,148 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,867, and the median income for a family was $29,813. Males had a median income of $28,114 versus $19,594 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,734. About 20.0% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Community Information

Atmore first registered on the map as a railroad stop on the Great Northern Railroad out of Mobile. In fact the city is named after Mr. C.P. Atmore, a railroad engineer who often stopped at the Williams Station depot there. Since the late 90s the city has held an Arts and Crafts festival in honor of this history.

For most of the 20th Century the Atmore area was primarily a farming, timber and light industry community. A major commercial industry in the town was and is Swift Supply Lumber Company. For many years, the "Vanity Fair" lingerie company operated a sewing plant in Atmore, offering employment to the citizens of Atmore and surrounding communities, the closing of which generated a short term employment crisis.

In the last 20 years Telecommunications have taken a greater role in the economy, first with Southland Systems a long distance and fiber optics corporation which sold out to Worldcom (later MCI-Worldcom). Later on its offices were incorporated into Touch #1 another long distance corporation, which was then bought out by Z-Tel.

Also the Creek Indian reservation near I-65 has come to regional importance. For many years the tribe has operated the Creek Indian Bingo Palace, but moves to transform the property to a full fledged casino has generated statewide debate.